Lead R&D Lab Engineer

at  Clariant

Job ID: 39038 | Location: Louisville, Kentucky, USA
At Clariant we are pushing boundaries in specialty chemicals and we invite you to join us on our journey. We encourage and expect high performance and we strive for excellence in all that we do. We support and provide you the flexibility and the experience you need to succeed. We foster a diverse, dynamic environment and an open and respectful culture. We firmly believe that every single person adds a unique element to the mix that is Clariant. Because the magic underlying our scientific innovations is our people. And because you are precious to us. The Laboratory Engineering Group Leader role who will be responsible leading design, development, and improvement of catalytic performance testing reactors within R&D. This role supports new product commercialization and productivity improvement projects for Clariant’s Catalyst Business Unit. The position will be based in Louisville, KY USA.

REQUIREMENTS

• Seeking a Ph.D. degree in Chemical Engineering or Chemistry with 5+ years of experience preferred.
• BS or MS degree in Chemical Engineering or Chemistry with direct experience and leadership experience will also be considered.
• Experience in reaction engineering, designing, building and maintaining laboratory equipment combined with laboratory automation, process control systems, process engineering, and/or process development (preferred)
• Deep knowledge of laboratory scale reactor designs, instrumentation, process monitoring and control systems. Fundamental knowledge of and experience with process simulation, scale-down/scale-up of heterogeneous catalytic reactors and related processes, transport phenomena and unit operations is preferred.
• Experience managing small projects including demonstrated knowledge of project management tools perferred.
• Experience/skills that include in-depth knowledge of physical chemistry, thermodynamics, chemical kinetics, reaction engineering, reaction modeling and simulation, and catalysis
• Leadership skills, experience & qualities highly desired
• Team orientation with excellent interpersonal skills – ability to lead, motivate, and mentor others
• Self-starter, with the ability to analyze and solve complex problems
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

• Leads a team of instrument and electrical specialists and mechanical technicians in the design, construction, maintenance, and improvement of catalytic testing reactors within R&D.
• Responsible for facilitating the construction of new and existing test reactors. Will also provide end to end support on new and existing (test) reactors, and other large equipment within R&D.
• Utilizes process requirements specified by application teams to design appropriate testing equipment including developing P&IDs, PFDs, Instrumentation, Safety Interlocks, and Process Control schemes.
• Manages the projects associated with laboratory scale test equipment or other related projects within the laboratory.
• Keeps current regarding state-of-the-art tools and methods for laboratory equipment design and practice to ensure safe, effective, and efficient laboratory test systems are available to meet business objectives.